As fall term commences, Deerfield athletes return to campus ready for another season. Along with practices, matches and meets, another set of pressures emerge at this time of the year: rigorous academic schedule, limited recovery time and, for many upperclassmen, the college recruitment process Mental health, therefore, plays a key role in athletic performance. Just as Deerfield athletes are expected to take care of their physical health by resisting colds and other sicknesse

Novig campaign sparks discussion over portrayal of women in athletics In an advertisement promoting the sports betting platform Novig, Hollywood actress and Emmy Award nominee Sydney Sweeney sparked controversy. Sweeney launched the viral “Just Sports” campaign — a “fun idea” to “put the focus entirely on sports,” according to one of Sweeney’s press statements. However, the Novig advertisement and Sweeney’s near nudity in it elicited heated discussions about much more than ju

ALICIA YIN/DEERFIELD SCROLL Before the new school year kicked off, Deerfield athletes began preparing for the upcoming fall athletic season. From volleyball courts and football pitches to soccer fields, teams have prepared for the season through preseason trips that were designed for skill development and team building. On the girls varsity volleyball team, bonding between new and returning players happened both on and off court. Girls varsity volleyball team captain Zora Fen

As the fall athletic season began, Deerfield held its annual cheerleader tryouts in the Hess Auditorium on September 15. Taking place right after sit-down, the cheerleader tryouts brought together students, returning cheerleaders, and this year’s roster of eager upperclassmen candidates. To be a cheerleader, upperclassmen signed up via the form on the student bulletin weeks before. Then, candidates formed groups of three and choreographed a routine, often consisting of two t

ALICIA YIN/DEERFIELD SCROLL Entering her final year on the team, captain of girls varsity soccer Meryl Gilbert ’27 expressed that soccer has helped her develop a deep commitment to both the game and her teammates. She hoped to use her role as captain to continue building the team and leave a lasting impact on the program. Growing up in upstate New York, she started in town leagues before playing for a club team at 10. Since then, she spent two years balancing local league